The agreement between Suriname and Guyana last August for 150 fisherfolk here to be granted licences by Paramaribo starting from January, 2022 is still to be realized and Chairman of the No 66 Fisheries Co-op, Parmeshwar Jainarine feels the delay is as a result of a pushback from licence holders in Nickerie who currently rent licences to Guyanese and stand to lose revenue.
Jainarine yesterday told Stabroek News that fisherfolk are frustrated as the licence holders in Suriname are now demanding that they dock their boats in that country and are threatening to stop renting the licences.
He explained that the issue was brought to the attention of Minister of Agriculture, Zulfikar Mustapha, who promised that he will work to resolve the issue. Mustapha is currently in Ecuador attending the 37th session of the FAO Regional Conference for Latin America and the Caribbean. The Minister could not be reached for comment yesterday. Messages sent to his WhatsApp number were not answered.
Meanwhile, Minister of Foreign Affairs Hugh Todd last night told Stabroek News that the Foreign Ministry has been working assiduously on having the Strategic Dialogue and Corporation Platform (SDCP) in place. He stated that while it is a process they are doing everything they can to have the agreements come into play. He stated that the countries remain committed to honouring their agreements in the SDCP.
He said that while he is unaware of a pushback from current Surinamese licence holders, the issuance of the fishing licences has been discussed at every meeting.
“The fishermen were happy at first with this arrangement but it is now an issue that is overtaking every other issue in our fisheries sector. The fishermen here are frustrated and they are blaming us now because of the challenges they are facing with the Surinamese licence holders,” Jainarine explained.
This issue among others were related to US Ambassador Sarah-Ann Lynch and US Deputy Assistant Secretary, Barbara A. Feinstein who on Saturday visited Berbice to observe agro-businesses in action.
The Chairman related that approximately 15-20 years ago fisherfolk from the co-op were holders of 50 licences. However, these were revoked and issued to Surinamese from Nickerie. This, he said, resulted in the current arrangement of renting licences.
“This has gotten so frustrating now because the industry has expanded and people are investing in the sector so there is a demand for licences and that has driven up the cost. A couple years ago we used to pay US$800 but today the price is close to US$4000… that is hard on us,” he lamented.
Petitioned
Jainarine explained that it was in this light they petitioned the government to request the reissuance of the licences they once held. However, after an analysis of the amount of fisherfolk operating at the co-op it was suggested they request 150 licences to operate in Surinamese waters.
“Our President was new and their President was new and after they were meeting we thought it best to make the request to the Minister and President when they had a meeting with us. We were trying to cut our operating cost but now the fishermen are blaming us because nothing has happened since and the Surinamese are making threats,” he pointed out.
He explained that boat owners have been informed that they will have to dock their boats in Suriname from early as next week. The Surinamese licence holders say since they do not have boats they must show proof of a boat at the time of certification and inspection in order to be granted a licence.
Jainarine argued that if they are to dock their boats in Suriname, it would mean the co-op will lose revenue and chances are that the business sector will face a setback.
He stated that on the Upper Corentyne, the fisheries sector has been functioning as the lifeline to the economy as they are still trying to recover from the shutting down of the Skeldon Sugar Estate.
“Not only will the co-op go out of business but all the other services supporting the co-op will feel the burden. If we are to dock our boats then all the groceries, fuel, ice, seine and other things will be purchased over there,” he explained.
He added that the co-op has in its employ over 20 persons and they, too, will be impacted.
Jainarine said the co-op will like to see the issue resolved at the soonest to aid fishers in their trade and return some stability to the future of the industry.
“We will not be able to continue operating if he we keep getting pressure from the Surinamese…with the high demand they can always take away their licences and give it to another boat to operate…” he added.
The licensing of local fisherfolk would have to be done in keeping with established quota set out by the Surinamese. Under the agreement, Suriname has agreed to licence 150 fishing vessels.
Back in August last year, President Irfaan Ali at a joint press conference alongside Suriname President Chandrikapersad Santokhi announced “I’m pleased at the conclusion of discussions between the Ministers of Agriculture, and we have found a way forward in relation to the granting of licences by Suriname to our fisherfolks and this would be in effect from January next year, and this is because that is the period that the licences are normally granted.”
He added “There were some allegations and we asked the fishermen to give us the info in relation to the licensing so we had a back and forward with that that impeded the finalization of this issue but we have come to a solution. We have come to a solution at this meeting and once the information set is handed over to the Minister of Agriculture … in the new licensing phase the licence will be issued in relation to the quota that was already determined”.
